Generator Stockholm

This could well be the best-value bed in Stockholm: rooms are user-friendly without losing an inch of their Scandinavian style. The bar and restaurant are becoming go-to venues in their own right, while business travellers will appreciate the plentiful workspace available away from the late-teens-on-tour crowds.

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£11per night

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Occupancy

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Adults

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Ages of children

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Location

7/10

The immediate vicinity isn't exactly pulsing – neighbours include a 7-11 convenience store and an office supplies shop – but within a 15-minute walk are Stockholm's main shopping precincts, bars and nightclubs. It's also only about 250 metres from Stockholm's central train station, with swift connections to Gamla Stan – the old city – and Södermalm, home to art galleries and all the Swedish fashion labels you wish were available back in London.

Style & character

8/10

Mix Scandinavian style with Generator's brand of hip hostel and the result is bound to be slick. Indeed it is. Public spaces are furnished with simple pale wood chairs, the odd dash of brightly coloured fabric, and sprigs of greenery in coloured glass jugs. If that sounds too IKEA, it is not: low metal lampshades and what appears to be the original pre-renovation staircase mean the hostel retains more character than a Billy bookcase.

Service & facilities

8/10

Staff are friendly, knowledgeable and speak fluent English. There was a large queue at reception for check-ins and departures one morning; with many guests accompanied by large rucksacks, this caused quite a crowd in the lobby. Staff kept their cool, and were not fazed by the constantly busy bar, café and reception area. Facilities reflect the fact that this is very much a city-centre hostel. There are four meetings rooms and calming amounts of workspace for guests who are travelling for business rather than sight-seeing. However improvements are needed to the locker room, which charges an expensive £4 (50 SEK) for 24 hours storage, using an impossibly complicated electric pin number system. Is there anything wrong with a key?

Bar

Laundry

Restaurant

Wi-Fi

Rooms

8/10

Thought has evidently gone into the design and rooms come equipped with electricity and USB sockets by the pillow, privacy boards alongside each bunk, plenty of hooks, mirrors and lockable under bed drawers for luggage; the clever use of space meant that even a six-bed dormitory did not feel crowded. Dormitory bathrooms are quite stark, with nothing except toilet paper provided – although soap and towels can also be rented for £4 (50 SEK). Female-only rooms are available. Private rooms offer hanging space, towels for the en-suite, and desks and chairs.

Food & drink

7/10

A short breakfast menu is served until 11am, with options including pulled pork on toast and well-made porridge, Swedish-style, with cinnamon and blueberry sauce – hostel guests who book breakfast in advance alongside their room receive a discount. Bar dishes served throughout the day include salmon, burgers and salads. However in a departure from hostel tradition, guests may not bring their own food and drink into the building and there are large signs warning against doing so. The bar appears to be developing into something of an attraction in itself, with huddles of outside guests mingling on Saturday nights.

Value for money

8/10

Dormitory bunks from £26 (296 SEK); private rooms from £90 (1031 SEK); breakfast £7.60 (85 SEK) per person if booked in advance. Free Wi-Fi. Depending on travel dates, you may find that Generator is one of the cheapest options in Stockholm – but the lack of self-catering options will push costs up.

Access for guests with disabilities?

Yes, at least one of the bathrooms is suitable for guests with disabilities, including a wide entrance and support rails. Rooms are accessible by lift.

Family-friendly?

The vibe is definitely more young-traveller-"doing"-Europe than family stop-over. However, there is no reason not to bring children, and private en-suite four-person rooms are available.